An investigation into the effects of work-related stress on eating behaviors and physical activity levels among employees in the information technology sector working from home

Following the declaration of COVID-19 as a pandemic in 2020, many sectors transitioned to remote working due to the implementation of social distancing measures. This shift led to significant lifestyle changes for employees in the information technology sector who were previously working actively on-site. The present study aimed to examine the relationship between work-related stress and eating behaviors as well as physical activity levels among IT sector employees working from home. The study was conducted between March 2024 and May 2024 through an online survey, based on voluntary participation. A total of 164 individuals residing in Istanbul and working remotely in the IT sector participated in the study, including 81 males (49.4%) and 83 females (50.6%). The study utilized a demographic questionnaire, Food Frequency Questionnaire, Remote Work Attitude Scale (RWAS), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-14), Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire (TFEQ), International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), and a three-day food consumption record. Statistical analyses were performed using IBM SPSS v27. The mean BMI of the participants was found to be 27.25±6.04 kg/m². Following the transition to remote work, 44.5% of the participants reported an increase in appetite, 44.5% reported more frequent snacking, 47.6% experienced weight gain, 20.7% reported an increase in cigarette consumption, and 47.6% were classified as physically inactive. Most participants reported increased consumption of meat, dairy, eggs, vegetables, bread, packaged foods, and sugar after starting to work from home. RWAS total scores were found to have a significant effect on both TFEQ and IPAQ scores. As RWAS scores increased, TFEQ scores decreased while IPAQ scores increased. Similarly, PSS-14 total scores had a significant effect on TFEQ and IPAQ scores. As stress levels increased, TFEQ scores increased and IPAQ scores decreased (p<0.001). Encouraging healthy lifestyle habits among remote workers is important for improving work efficiency and preventing chronic diseases. The psychological and physical effects of working from home need to be examined through more comprehensive research.